Elkridge, Census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States.
Elkridge is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, spreading across residential neighborhoods and commercial areas at the intersection of major transportation routes. The area blends older settlement zones with modern development along principal roads and rail lines.
The settlement was established by the Maryland General Assembly as Jansen Town in 1733, making it the oldest community in Howard County. Over two centuries it evolved from an early colonial outpost into a modern suburb following railroad and road development.
The Elkridge Assembly Rooms provided a gathering space for residents during the Civil War, fostering community connections in divided times.
The area is served by several elementary and middle schools within the Howard County Public School System that meet the educational needs of local families. Visitors should expect the community to be primarily residential with scattered commercial areas accessible by local roads.
The Thomas Viaduct, a railroad bridge constructed in 1833, stands today as the oldest multiple-arched curved stone bridge still in active use worldwide. This feat of early railroad engineering represents a remarkable example of 19th-century industrial construction.
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